DAVE School offers intensive 1-year training leading to meaningful employment in computer animation for film, visual effects, and gaming. 2014 placement is at 83% and the school is located at Universal Studios Orlando.

Animation. Graphic Design. Game Art.

Did you know... Each year more than 25% of the student population of The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (DAVE School) comes from outside the US to attend the school at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. There are currently students attending from Saudi Arabia, England, South Korea, Russia, Venezuela, and Dubai. DAVE School can provide assistance in securing student visas and student housing. Learn more at www.DaveSchool.com.

Animation Careers in Missouri

Overview - Animators work in a variety of industries from advertising to film and video to gaming and design. This means animators can be found working in a multitude of environments such as computer design firms, advertising and marketing agencies, post-production, and film studios. Education is also a top career field for animators, so if you would like to work in the field while passing along your knowledge and experience to the next crop of talented professionals, Missouri has a number of institutions to help you achieve your goals. The state also has the means to accommodate animators of all kinds. Missouri offers:

132 Colleges and Universities with opportunities to study animation and teach animation

Most art and animation programs offered at Missouri colleges are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). In addition to offering degrees in animation, multi-media art, or computer science with a focus in animation, a number of Missouri colleges also offer animation certificates, enrichment courses, or other non-degree animation programs.

Employment and Salary Trends for Missouri Animators

As of 2009, approximately 490 animators worked in production studios, ad agencies, academic institutions, and computer design firms throughout the state of Missouri. Across the nation, employment in the animation (and multi-media) industry is expected to grow by 14 percent for the 2008-2018 decade. This is higher than all occupations in the “artists and related workers” industry. At 12 percent, art directors are second in employment growth, followed by fine artists at 9 percent.

As of May 2009, the mean annual wage for animators overall was $62,810 per year. The lowest paid animators earned $32,360 per year and the highest paid animators earned $99,130 per year. As of May 2009, animators in the state of Missouri earned a mean salary of $47,610 per year.

The highest paying states for animators are:

California ($76,010 per year)

Maryland ($66,850 per year)

Washington ($64,840 per year)

New York ($62,150 per year)

Animation Career Opportunities in Missouri

Aspiring film and video animators may find employment or internship opportunities at the following animation studios in Missouri:

GIS Virtual, St. Louis

Trinity Animation, Lees Summit

Brisk Interactive, Kansas City

Ozark Motions, St. Louis

Branit FX, Kansas City

Moh Visuals, St. Louis

Bazillion Pictures, Kansas City

AniMagic Productions, St. Louis

Animators interested in working in the advertising and public relations industries may find employment at the following firms:

Fuse Advertising, St. Louis

Hughes Group, St. Louis

Kochan & Company, St. Louis

Advertising Savants, St. Louis

Computer technology and design animators may find employment at:

Winntech Digital Systems, Kansas City

Scottrade Inc., St. Louis

IBM, Kansas City

Although animation positions can be found in many cities throughout the state, most are located in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, and Columbia.

Missouri Animation Training Programs

Missouri offers access to a number of renowned animation programs and concentrations offered at schools such as Kansas City Art Institute and Webster University. Other notable animation programs are offered at: